Folding table



" :Patented ;May 24, 1927; if

1 "l nmvorn w. ZIMMERMAN, {or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. "1

I rornnve TABLE.

Application d September 1451925.: Seria1 N oi56,172.

- This invention relates generally to tables and: is particularlyconcerned with ja table Dffoldi'ng construction which'is adapted tobeyrea'dily set upfand collapsed.

'5 One of the principal objects of the inventlonjis theprovision of atable suitable either for continuous or infrequent servlce,

. one which may be compactly folded to 'occupy aininimum of space whennot in use and which vvill provide seating accommodaa tions for a largenumber without interfermembers. i o M a v Another object oft-heinventionisthepro 1,15 vision on folding tablef of simplified 0011-s'truction adaptedfo'r connecting in series I 1 with other tables] witha lea'for 'spacing connection therebetweenfor' eliminatingsuperfluous'supportinglegs or elements,

r and improved. means for holding the supportingmembers securely bothther open andfclosed positions, 1 v i r I Theinventionprovidesaneasilyymanipu' 25' lated folding'table (vi-light, strong,durable and firm construc'tion, vvhiclris highly jefii 'cient butinexpensive, and 'possessesnumerous advantages other thanthosefspecifically set forthfas willjbe apparent frornthe' dravW ings,understood when the specification is i read and pointed outin theappendedclaimsj [I have shown in'the accompanying draw-U ,lngs only whatI" consider to be a preferred 1 embodiment of the, invention, but bystat- 1 ing this preference it is to be understood that I do" notintend; to suggest anyjlimitation in I a the application of theinvention The draw- 3 ingis for illustration purposes only, and

" should notfrea'ct' to curtail unnecessarily the scope of the claims,'as obviously various modifications of incidental details of theinvention will occur toothersand be ems ployed with satisfactory.results. i 'In the: drawing: w Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tableem ;bodying the-invention; 1 I

Fig. 2 is avertical section through line 2-2 ofiFig. 1; l

"when folded; i v I i V l V Fig. 41 is a fragmentary detail view of thesupporting brace and. the'catch therefor; and t Fig. 5'isairenl'argedcross sectional view on line 55 of Fig; 1 showing theinterlocking arrangement of the tablewith a spacing ence} orinconvenience fromthe supporting A. further ob'ect-is' thepr'o'visioriof never Fig. 3 is a bottom plan. view of the table 1portion 16 within the opening 20. A

bracing member thus provides a rigid supf portrfor maintaining the legsin upright member orleaf for" use when several units v are connected inseries. 1 1 v The top 1.0 of the; table has-associated I thereWith,after thehusual manner, an apron The sides of the'apron 11 aredrillednear thelr ends to provideopenings .12 to receive thelegs 13ofthe supporting frame. The support ng frame, as, shown, issubstantially Ueshaped, and 1s formed. from ordinary A ends of the legs13 may be bent'o'utward to pedientofinserting ,'1n the openings 12, one

end of'th-e leg13 byscrew threaded engages ment'with the stem ,ofvtheTJQ The bottom" :or floor portion 14 of the supporting, frame lsbowedslightly upward toward the center so that theouter ends thereofrestfuponitlie floor when thef table is setup; The floor.

portion tends to distribute the weight of the,

of the ends of the transversememhenof{an i p 1 ordinary T 13 vand toconnect thereto the tablefand its contentsjover a wide area, fand 3*between the upper ends of the legs" and at its freeiend witha bent catchengaging supporting frame bytensionmg heavy Wires;

jfwill be found, effective infeliminatin'g the i usual rock ng due touneven floors. g i

Strength'and rigldity may beaddedjto'thef a I i is fretatr ablyfattachedbya; T 15 to the medial per: i 1 tion of the floor member l' land is provided portion 16. which is a dapte'd' to b e'retaine d jff bythe catch member shown in Fig. 4; when the table is setup; [Said catch;member comf prises an, iron strapl'f which is fixedly se cured tothe'under side of the table top 10 by means of screws 18 and which hasends bent awayfrom the table to form a right-angled retaining portion 19and a "spring portion 21. The perpendicular portion19 of the strap isprovidedovvithan opening/20 toreceive the engaging portion 16 of thebracing member 15. The spring portion 21 is adapted to bear against'thebracing member 15 and retain the engaging The positions 1 i 1A'right-angled finger 22 extends from the no base portion of thestrip 17and isadapted to Y v v be turned to bridge the opening defined by Q 65ii 2 inch galvanizedipipe or tubing. The upper v the three sidesot thestrap, and to hold the brace member 15 therein when the table iscollapsed.

The table is set up. placing-the legs. in perpendicular relationship tothe top and snapping the engaging portion 16 at the brace or supportingrod 15 into the opening 20 of the catch member 17.

To fold or collapse the table the sprin 21 is depressed and thesupporting member 15 removed from en 'agenient with the catch member 17.The legs are then swung inwardly toward the center of the table and thefree end of the bracing memberis swung outwardly toward, the end of thetable. until both rest against the top as shown in Fig. In this positionthe bracing member lies, across the strap 17 within the confines thereofand is therein retained by turning of the finger 22. The completesupporting struc ture is retained in place within the apron of the'tableand several tables when collapsed may be piled one upon another, or asingle table can be conveniently stored in a small space.

The supporting members may advantageously be constructed of pipe lengthsjoined at the corners by elbows and utilizing tees for connecting thebracing members as shown in the drawing. Or, the complete structure maybe made of tubing or solid stock which may be bent to form the componentparts.

Two or more tables may be coupled to provide extraordinary seatingaccommoda-v tions by interposing leaves. such as the, leaf 27, betweenthe ends thereof; thereby making the supporting structure perform doubleduty.

To facilitate this arrangement the ends of the table are provided with aplurality of socket membersQS which are adapted to receive the catchmembers 29, oppositely disposed on the ends oi the leaf 27,

Each socket 28 comprises a. recess 30 in the edge of the table, coveredby a slottedv angular metallic piece 31 whichfits over the edge oi thetableand rests upon a marg nal ledge which is countersunk into the topof the table about the sides of the recess. The piece 31 is fastened bymeans of bolts or screws 31". Each catch member 29 is composed of ametal strap secured at one end to the leaf 27 and bent at right anglestop and connected in pairs at the bottom thereof by bowed base members.a rigid brace rod attached to each of said base members. said latchmeans comprising metallic straps, each or" said straps having one endbent and apertured and receiving the free end of one of the bracemembers and having the'other end bent to form a spring adapted to engagesaid brace member to hold it in engagement with the first-mentioned endwhen thelegs are in table-supporting position.

2. In a folding table, the combination. of a top, an apron, latch meanson the under side of said top, a plurality of table l'e; pivoted to saidapron and connected in pairs at the bottom thereof by bowed basemembers, Ts secured to the upper end of rail legs and adapted to litinto holes providedin said apron, a rigid brace rod attached to each ofsaid base members, said latch means comprising, metallic straps, each ofsaid straps having one end bent and apertured and receiving the free endof one of the brace members and having the other end bent to form aspring adapted to engage said brace member to hold itin engagement withthe first-mentioned end when the legs are in table-supporting position,and a linger attached to each of said straps and adapted to be turned tobridge the space between the ends of said strap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARN OLD. IV. Z'IMMERMAX.

